Arctic Soil recycles nutrients from the body for a month of hibernation.
The discovery, published in the journal Nature Metabolism, could explain how mammals survive a long period of inactivity in winter.
To conduct the study, scientists at the University of Alaska Fairbanks followed ground squirrels in the lab for more than two years.
When the rodent hibernates at temperatures just above zero, the instruments observe the conversion of free nitrogen – secreted by the atrophic muscles of the animal – into amino acids.
Researchers suspect that squirrels could use amino acids to synthesize proteins that nourish lung and kidney tissue and strengthen skeletal muscles.
Hibernation of the arctic ground squirrel generally lasts 8 months. During this time, they do not eat or drink anything. When they are in hibernation, they breathe once per minute.
Although inactive for most of the year, arctic ground squirrels do not lose significant muscle mass and do not experience long-term cell damage.
“During hibernation, they don’t eat, drink or show major bodily harm,” said Sarah Rice, a researcher at the Institute of Arctic Biology.
Understanding the biochemistry of hibernating animals could help scientists develop new treatments for muscle loss in cancer patients and the elderly.
The discovery could also pave the way for better treatments for serious injuries, as well as preventative measures for astronauts who often suffer from muscle atrophy in space.
